Tube-frame clutch



Dec. 28', 1926. 1,612,094

, J. J. BROGAN TUBE FRAME CLUTCH Fiied June 25, 1924 16 If f. 13

W W A'T'VO NEYS Patented Dec: 28, 1926.

Uhl'lTED STATES rennet PATENT QFFEQE.

JAMES J. BROGAN, F I-IIGI'ITSTOWN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GROMB'ION (itKNOWLES LOOIVI WORKS, 035 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

TUBE-FRAME CLUTCH.

Application filed June 25,

This invention relates to Axminster looms being withdrawn from theseries and moved to weaving position to permit the formation of tuftsand then returned to the series. It occasionally happens that thedevices for releasing the tube frames do not operate properly and theyWill remain in raised position. Under such conditions it is desirable tostop the loom to prevent the formation of an empty row across thefabric. Looms of the type referred to usually employ several hundredtube frames which are likely to vary slightly in length and it isdesirable that the stop motion be independent of these variations.

The stop motion shown in Patent No. 1,546,685 provides an adjustablescrew in each clutch to engage a projection on the tube frame wheneverthe latter is not properly released. The screw has the same setting forall the tube frames, and cannot operate properly with a tube frameslightly under size. Moreover, the screw is provided primarily for thepurpose of releasing the frames from their transporting chains, and thestopping of the loom is a secondary matter.

In order to provide for more certain operation of the stop motion I haveprovided each clutch with a yielding device which 00- operates with thestopping mechanism independently of the screw and slight variations inthe length of the tube frames.

A more particular object of my invention is to provide the clutch with ayielding plunger associated with an adjustable tube frame springreleasing device wherein the yielding plunger, which is made tocooperate with the stop motion, operates inde* pendently of the varyingadjustable positions of the det ice.

With these and otherobjects in view which will appear as the descriptionproceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims:

1924. Serial in. 722,413.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein one form of my invention is shown,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an Axminster loom having myinvention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevation of the clutch mechanism looking inthe direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawing it will be seen that I haveprovided a loom frame having bearings 11, one of which is shown in thedrawing, to receive cross shaft 12 on which is mounted a pair of arms,one of which is indicated at 13, Fig. 1. The arms are raised and loweredby means of a connector 14 which is operated from an appropriate part(not shown) of the loom and there is pivoted on each arm 13 for motionin a substantially horizontal plane, a clutch carrying lever 15 whichmoves about stud 16 carried by arm 13. By means of mechanism similar tothat shown in Patent No. 186,374, lever 15 is moved toward the tubeframe when in raised position as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, theresult of which is to present clutch 17 to the tube frame to release thesame so it may be moved with the arm to weaving position as indi catedin the dotted line position. In the process of weaving it is necessaryto rock the tube frame so that the tufts of yarn may be properly placed.This is accomplished by pivoting clutch-17 to the adjacent arm 15 as at18 and providing each clutch with a connector 19 pivotally connected tothe clutch by stud 20.

A cam plate 21 rotates with shaft 22 and carries a cam patch 23positioned for engage ment with the rear end 24 of a lever 25 pivoted toa fixed stud-26. The upper arm 27 of lever 25 has pivoted thereto as at28 a floating lever 29, the rear end of which is connected to the lowerend of depressor rod 30, the upper end of which is received in fixedguide 31 and positioned in the path of arm 13. The forward sneer lever29 is provided with a notch 32 which cooperates with lever 33 to stopthe loom whenever de pressor rod remains in'raised positionbecause ofthe failure of arm 13 to ae ressthe same. The matter thus far describedis in common use and'j for a more complete de scription thereofreference may be had to the aforesaid Patent lto. 186,374: and Patentjusted position by means of lock nut 48. The

threaded shank ll passes through a guide 44 which is held against thehead 40 by means of lock nut 45 and has the lower end thereof perforatedto-receive the outer end of a plunger 46, The latter is formed with ahead 4:7, by means of which the enlarged rectangular end 428 of theplunger may be moved toward the tube frame by means of compressionspring i9 which lies between the guide at and the head 47. The head 47engages the clutch and limits motion of the plunger under action of thespring.

The invention may be used in connection with a tube frame such as shownin Fig. 3 having a tubular portion 50, a spool bearing bracket 51, a3300i 52. and a chain engaging spring 53 held to the tube frame by meansof screw 54. The parts are so proportioned that when the tube frameassumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 the plunger willhave been depressed by the tube frame and will lie over screw 54.

In the normal operation of the loom the clutches will be moved towardthe adjacent ends of the tube frames to cause the latter to moveupwardly on cam face 55 of the clutch. The projecting end 48 of theplunger will be depressed by the spring 58 against the action of spring4-9. Then the parts have been properly placed, the mechanism operatingupon connector 14 will move to permit arms 13 to fall and if the tubeframe is properly released it will move to weaving position and arm 13will depress the rod so that as the floating lever 29 moves forward, itwill not engage rocking lever 83. However, should the tube frame fail tobe released, the head 4-8 of the plunger :6 will engage the screw andthe clutch l7 and arm 13 ill be held in raised position so that as lever29 moves forwardly the front end thereof will be in lower position andengage lever 33 to rock the same to cause the stopping of the loom.

It will be seen from the foregoing that even though the successive tubeframes are of slightly varying lengths the plunger 46 will neverthelessengage screw 54, the amount by which the head e8 extends beyond the face42 being suthcient to accommodate all ordinary variations in the lengthsof the tube frames. It will also be noted that although stud 20 isadjustable lengthwise in the clutch yet the guide it will always be inposition not only to receive the plunger but also to serve as anabutment for spring 49.

Having thus described my invention it will be ap iarent that changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the detailsherein disclosed but what I claim is:

1.. It clutch for iixminster looms operating with a series of yarn tubeframes movable one by one to operative position and each having aprojection attending therefrom and a disconnecting member attachedthereto, said clutch having a stud longitudinally adj uetable thereon toengage the disconnecting member and a yielding plunger to lie verticallyabove the projection when the clutch tube frame are in engagement witheach other.

2. A clutch for Axminster looms operating a series of yarn tube framesmovable one by one to operative position and each having a projectionextending therefrom and a disconnecting member carried thereby, saidclutch having a stud thereon adjustable toward and from the tube framein operative position to engage the member, said clutch having a plungeryi ldingly movable with respect thereto and movable substantiallyparallel to the stud and positioned for en gagement with thedisconnecting member vertically above the projection.

3. A clutch for Axminster looms operating with a series of yarn tubeframes movable one by one to operative position and each having aprojection extending therefrom and a disconnecting spring thereon, saidclutch having a stud thereon adjustable toward and from thedisconnecting spring and positioned for engagement therewith, a plungeryieldingly mounted on the clutch and positioned to engage thedisconnecting spring above the projection, and a guide for said plungercarried by the stud and holding said plunger in operative position forall adjusted positions of said stud.

4. In an Amninster loom having a tube frame with a projection thereonand a hook member on the frame to support the same, a clutch for thetube frame to engage the hook member and move the same to a position torelease the tube frame and having a downward movement to carry the frameto weaving position, and a yielding plunger on the clutch to lie overthe projection when the clutch is in position to move the tube frame toweaving position, said plunger engaging the projection when the tubeframe is held from moving to weaving position to prevent the downwardmovement of the clutch.

5. A clutch for Axminster looms operating with a series of yarn tubeframes each having a disconnecting member attached thereto by meanswhich extend beyond the vertical plane of the member, said clutch havinga stud thereon to engage the disconnecting member and having also ayielding plunger adapted to engage the member and positioned when theclutch is operatively related to a tube frame to lie vertically over themeans.

('3. A clutclrfor Axminster looms operating with a series of yarn tubeframes each having a projection extending therefrom and each having adisconnecting member attached thereto, said clutch having a studlongitudinally adjustable thereon to engage the disconnecting member,said clutch also having a plunger slidable thereon substantiallyparallel to the stud, and yielding means interposed between the stud andthe plunger to hold the latter vertically above the projection of a tubeframe which is in operative engagement with the clutch in all. adjustedpositions of the stud.

7. In a clutch for Axminster looms oper ating with a series of yarn tubeframes movable one by one to operative position and each having adisconnecting member at tached thereto and a projection extendingtherefrom, said clutch having a stud therein to engage the disconnectingmember, and a plunger extending substantially parallel to the stud, aguide for the plunger supported by the stud, and resilient means betweenthe guide and the plunger to hold the same vertically above theprojection of a tube frame which is operatively in engagement With theclutch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JAMES J. BROGAN.

